The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Enrollment Application Opens May 12!

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The Federal Communications Commission has launched a temporary program to help families and households struggling to afford Internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. 

A household qualifies* for the Emergency Broadband Benefit discount if it has an income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines OR any member of the household:

  • Qualifies for Lifeline benefits through participation in SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance, or Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit;

  • Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020 with a total household income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers;

  • Received a federal Pell Grant in the current award year;

  • Received approval for benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year; 

  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program, and that provider received FCC approval for its eligibility verification process; or

  • Participates in one of several Tribal specific programs: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Head Start (only households meeting the relevant income qualifying standard), Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.

* Eligible households with a past due balance or a balance in collections can still get the discount. And the discount is available to new, prior and existing customers of participating providers.

Starting MAY 12 households can enroll using any of the following options: 

  1. online at www.getemergencybroadband.org;

  2. by mail with a paper application; OR

  3. by contacting a local participating internet service provider (for an initial list of local service providers see below).

To learn more about the discount program including eligibility and enrollment information, contact any one of the following local partners or visit https://www.portlandoregon.gov/oct/81463:

  • Multnomah County Library at (503) 988-5123

  • Call 2-1-1 (or 1-866-698-6155, or TEXT your zip code to 898211 (TXT211), or EMAIL help@211info.org) – 211Info is a local non-profit that provides callers with referrals to basic needs programs such as food, shelter, health care and now the EBB

  • Call 3-1-1 - the City of Portland’s 311 Customer Service line provides community access to local government information and services, and now the EBB

  • City of Portland website at https://www.portlandoregon.gov/oct/81463 


Local EBB Participating Providers:

  • Comcast Xfinity 1-800-934-6489 (wireline)

  • Comcast Internet Essentials 1-855-846-8376 (wireline)

  • Ziply Fiber 1-866-699-4759 (wireline)

  • AT&T 1-800-331-0500 (wireless)

  • Human-I-T (using Sprint/T-Mobile network) 1-888-391-7249 (wireless)

  • T-Mobile 1-800-866-2453 (wireless)

  • Verizon 1-800-922-0204 (wireless)


Community Alliance of Tenants Oregon